Snap-hook.



J. B. BAXTER.

SNAP HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY/16.1911.

1,276,008. Patented Aug 20, 191s.

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JOHN BROWN BAXTEIt, 0F WATERVLIET, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 COVERT MANUFAC- TUBING 00., OF WATERVLIET, Nllellli YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SNAP-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Application filed. May 16, 1917. Serial No. 169,088.

I '0 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. Bnxrnmcitizen of the United States, residing at Watervliet, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in hooks and more especially that type of hook known in the art as snap hooks,and has for its primary object the provision of an improved construction of eye for the hook onabling the ready attachment thereof-while open to:the link of a chain orthe .likeand permitting the eye to be relatively permanently closed to similarly confine the link in the'eye;

Heretofore,snap hooks have quite gener ally been provided with eyes at that end of the shank opposite to the end carrying the snap hook proper, but the formations of the prevalent styles of eyes present marked disadvantages. For example, it has been previously suggested that the eye be formed of overlapping curved members constituting the working end of the eye but such a construction is objectionable because of the weakening of the eye incident to said split formation and because of the relatively weakened nature of the component part of the eye. a 1

An eye formed by casting a hook-like member adapted to. remain open until the insertion of the ring or link to which the same is to be'attached, and adaptedt-o be hammered or otherwise forced to" close the end of the hook on to a seat provided on the shank, has also been employed to considerable extent, but in such devices the metal constitutingthe working end or bend of the eye is distorted in the sense that the metallic particles are displaced and relatively compressedor separated at dilferent'points, resulting in the corresponding weakening of the eye and frequently fracturing if not entirely breaking away portions thereof.

---My present invention overcomes the difficulties thus confronting workersin the art the same, combined with a closure adapted to bridge the space between the shank and the end of the hook to constitute a relatively permanent element completing the eye with out splitting, bending, or displacing the hook portion of the eye, as originally formed, or consequent impairment of the latter in any manner.

I have conceived many embodiments of the invention herein disclosed, each presenting special details inconstruction and arrangement of parts, but for the sake of illustration in imparting a full understanding of said invention, 1 willherein illustrate but one convenient and practical embodiment thereof, Upon an examination thereof in connection with the detailed description hereinafter contained, the underlying spirit or principle of the invention will be apparent and the breadth thereof appreciated from the scope of the hereto appended claims.

In the said drawings, 1

' ,Figure 1 is a face view of a snap hook provided with my present improvements.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of thesame.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, and,

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the eye closure in its other position.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein the same reference letters designate identical parts in the several views, Arepresents the shank of a snap hook, the same being cast in the nature of a barrel. B is the customary hook adapted to be terriporarilycrclosed by the bolt C fitted in the barrel and backed by the spring D located in said barrel, the bolt being provided with the customary thumb-engageable projection E, the stem of which moves back and forth in the slotted portion F of the barrel "as the bolt is retracted or permitted to be thrust outwardly under the action of its spring. This bolt and associated parts form a relatively temporary closurefor the hook because of the facility withcwhich the same maybe opened or closed under the actuation of the thumb of the user and without the interpositioning of extraneous implements or devices to retract the bolt.

The opposite end of the shank or barrel Ais, similarly to the formation of the hook B therewith, cast integrally with a hook-like eye portion G of solid material and suitable in size to alone constitute the bend or working end of the eye. It is to be observed that the location of the part just described is such that the space H on the interior of the eye is centrally disposed, that is, .in line with the longitudinal axis of the shank or barrel A so that the chain or other part to which the eye may be attached will have a straight pull at the bend or working end-Of the eye correspondingly in line with the shank or barrel ,also that the end of the hook-like eye portion terminates at one side of the device but in a plane running parallel to the shank or barrel, said end being sufliciently spaced from the end of the barrel to initially form I an opening for the insertion of a chain link,

ring, or equivalent device in the eye.

Now, when the snap hook is once attached to the chain or other member intended to carry the snap hook, it is rarely necessary to remove the latter, and I therefore provide a closure for the opening of the eye to which allusion has been made, which closure is of what I have termed a relatively permanent character, that is, one that cannot be opened without difliculty as compared to the snap hook per .96, or in fact without the use of some implement or device other than I the hands of the operator to eifect such opening as expediency may require, as in case of breakage to permit the substitution of another in its stead. This closure has a bar J of approximatel the size of the hook-like portion of the eye, one end of the bar being reduced to form an apertured ear K to ac commodate and overlie an :aperturedlug L integral with and projecting outwardly from the adjacent side of the shank or barrel A, a pin M passing through the ear and lug pivoting theseparts together. It will be seen that the formation and projecting of the lug beyond. the side of the shank or barrel disposes the bar when closed in a position parallel to the said shank or barrel and with the opposite end of the bar immediately adjoining the end of the'hook-like port-ion of the shank to bridge the space between the latter and the stem-or barrel while enabling the centralizing of the eye before referred to.

The lapping of the pivot end of thebar over the lug to which the same is pivoted reinforces the bar against facewise strains in the direction'of the underlying lug, and to strengthen the bar against strains from the opposite direction, the'bar isprovided With a tongue N at that end which adjoins the end'of the hook-like portion of the eye to interfit with a similarly formed tongue O on'sai'd end of the hook like portion, all of which is best seen in Fig. 2.

As a'means forsecurely fastening the bar in closed position to perform its function as a barrier across the opening of the eye. sai'dbar'is provided with an integral inturned hook P adapted to project into the opening of the eye and disposed to have its engaging part face the end of the shank'or barrel A so as'to engagebehin'd a locking pin Q normally thrust outwardly from the barrel by the bolt spring previously defined,

the opposite end of which bolt spring bears against a head R on the locking pin located in the barreland adapted to contact the end wall S of the latter to limit the outward movement of the locking pin. The end .of the inturned hookjnst referred to is rounded as at T and the outside edge of the end of-the locking pin beveled as at U to facilitate the riding of the hook thereover in its closing 'movement depressing the locking pin, as will be clear.

To prevent inoperative displacement of the locking pin the end of the same is upset or flattened slightly so asto prevent its complete retraction into the relatively smaller aperture V at the end of the barrel through which the locking pin "WOlkS.

From the foregoing construction it'will be appreciated thatvthe eye will-originally be opened as indicated'by the outwardly swung position of the'bar shown in Fig. i, and upon the engagement of the eyewith the chain or member to carry the same the bar-may be readily closed under slight pressure to force the same into the position shown in Fig. 1 with the inturned hook latched behind the locking pin. In this position-it willbe observed that the-hook being of somewhat greater .width'tln'oughout thanthe size of'the lockingpin, will protect the lockingpinifrom the ring or chain link in the eye by preventing any endwise engagement with the'locking pin, :and by the overhanging of the edge walls of the inturned hook with reference to the locking pin the latter is abundantly'protected laterally. Thus a relatively permanent-fastening is effected. "In case of breakage of'the hook or for some other reason such as the substitution of another of different size or character, animplement suchasthe blade of a pen knifemay be inserted and by pressure upon the end'of-the locking pin the same can be forced into the :shank or barrel A thereby releasing theinturned hook and permitting the'bar to be swung to open position.

Having thus described the i-nventiomwhat turned P3111011 the bar intermediate the; ends of the .bar zproj ecting into :the eye opening,

and means interlocking with said inturned part for the purpose described.

2. A device of the character described comprising a shank provided with an eye including a hook portion carried by the shank, and means for closing the space between the end of the hook portion and the shank including an outwardly-opening bar pivoted at one end to the shank and at its other end adjoining the end of the hook portion, and an inturned hook on the bar projecting laterally into the eye opening adapted to interlock with a part carried by the shank for the purpose described.

3. A device of the character described comprising a shank provided with an eye including a hook portion carried by the shank, and means for closing the space between the end of the hook portion and the shank including an outwardly-opening bar engaged at one end with the shank and at its other end adjoining the end of the hook portion, and an inturned hook on the bar projecting laterally into the eye opening adapted to interlock with a part carried by the shank for the purpose described, the shank of the inturned hook being interposed between its interlocking part and the outer end of the eye to protect the latter from contact with devices attached to the eye.

4. In a device of the character described, a hook part carried by a shank, and means i for closing the space between the hook part and the shank including an outwardlyopening closure having portions engaging adjacent portions of the hook and shank and an offset portion, in combination with a y'peldable latching member in the eye over w ich the offset portion is adapted to ride in its closing movement and with which it interlocks when closed to prevent opening movement.

5. In a device of the character described, an eye portion including a hook carried by a shank, and means for closing the space between the end of the hook and the shank comprising a bar, and a substantially concealed latch adapted to engage a part on said bar to prevent opening thereof, said latch being-releaseable only by the interposition of an extraneous tool, as the blade of a penknife, to force the same from engagement with the bar, and to prevent accidental release of the latch by engagement with exterior objects in service.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hook part carried by a shank, and means for closing the space between the end of the hook part and the shank comprising an outwardly-opening bridging member, and self-locking means operatively associated with said bridging member to prevent automatically engaging the same when closed to prevent unintentional opening thereof, the briding member having portions independently of the self-locking means, engaging the end of the hook part and the shank. V

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BROWN BAXTER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. Lens, HARRY A. SAUTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Iatente, Washington, D. 0." 

